MotoGP is gearing up for a season
like no other. For the first time, the
class has two tiers, two types of
machinery. But the picture up at
the front will not be unfamiliar.
Who would bet against it being
led by a feisty Australian, intent on
following in the footsteps of his
boyhood hero?
He is of course Casey Stoner, and
the hero Mick Doohan. Riding in the
same Repsol Honda team is one
ambition fulfilled. Casey still needs
to win three more titles to match
the mighty one. The plan for 2012 is
obvious.
Casey leads the factory Honda
charge alongside Spaniard Dani
Pedrosa. Given the strength of the
machine and the test results so far,
he might easily be the biggest threat:
his race-winning potential is not in
doubt but a tendency to get hurt has
spoiled season after season for him.
Honda’s new V4 (for the first
time, rules dictate the number of
cylinders) follows on from last year’s
RCV. Having finally achieved chassis
and electronic balance, and adding a
seamless-shift gearbox, it was at last
the class of the 800 field.
There’s no reason why the
superiority should not transfer to the
new 1000cc class, in spite of the
25-percent capacity boost. Except
perhaps one: a curve ball thrown by
control tyre suppliers Bridgestone.
A spate of cold-tyre high-sides
last year, including several injuries,
prompted a rethink of carcase and
compound, offering quicker and less
sensitive warm-up. So far so good;
the riders like them. But when they
started to get up to speed at Sepang
tests, they found serious problems
with tyre chatter.
This deleterious vibration mid-corner
can be solved with chassis tuning, but
it’s a black art. If Honda are slow to
find resolution (and it took them four
years with the 800), that gives the
opposition a chance.
That means Yamaha. Suzuki, such
as they were, have gone; Ducati is
battling to regain momentum after a
disastrous first year with Rossi.
Yamaha may lack a serious title
sponsor for a second year, but
they have riding strength aplenty.
Jorge Lorenzo was inch-perfect
last year, although the small but
distinct machine deficit meant he
had to ride the wheels off it ... and
eventually (as he has predicted) he
crashed. Team-mate Ben Spies starts
a second factory year with one win
in his pocket, and a strong need to
take the next step. Because he has
new satellite rider Andrea Dovizioso
breathing down his neck.
Dovi, dropped from the Honda
factory squad after a career serving
the manufacturer, spurned offers of a
satellite ride there to cross the floor
to join the Tech 3 Yamaha satellite
squad. He is on a mission to avenge
his reputation, and as proof he was
fastest Yamaha (third overall) at the
second Sepang test.
Since all the bikes are new, there
will be less difference than usual
between factory and satellite
machines, and the Italian’s aim is to
force his way into the factory team.
Team-mate Cal Crutchlow was also
impressive at Sepang.
Ducati? With the “no-feel” carbon
mini-chassis dumped in favour of
MOTOGP >>> FEATURE
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GPWEEK.com //
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